The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Missouri For 2024


The most expensive cities in Missouri are Ladue and Town And Country for 2024 based on Saturday Night Science.

Before you decide to relocate to Missouri, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.

These are the places in Missouri that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.

We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2018-2022 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 127 places in Missouri with more than 5,000 people.

After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Missouri for 2024.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table


The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Missouri For 2024

  1. Ladue
  2. Town and Country
  3. Clayton
  4. Des Peres
  5. Sunset Hills
  6. Weldon Spring
  7. Creve Coeur
  8. Glendale
  9. Wildwood
  10. Chesterfield

What’s the most expensive place to live in Missouri? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Ladue is the most expensive place to live in Missouri.

Park Hills (the cheapest place to live in Missouri) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.

And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Missouri and the most expensive cities in the country:

The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Missouri For 2024

Ladue, MO

Source: Flickr User pasa47 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 8,934
Cost Of Living Index: 169
Median Income: $250,001
Average Home Price: $1,110,693
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.4x
More on Ladue: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Ladue is 169. The median income in Ladue comes in at $250,001 and the average home value is $1,110,693 for 2024.

Town And Country, MO

Source: HomeSnacks
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 11,575
Cost Of Living Index: 147
Median Income: $231,382
Average Home Price: $963,818
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.2x
More on Town And Country: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Town And Country is 147. The median income in Town And Country comes in at $231,382 and the average home value is $963,818 for 2024.

Clayton, MO

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 17,212
Cost Of Living Index: 142
Median Income: $125,829
Average Home Price: $754,588
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.0x
More on Clayton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Clayton is 142. The median income in Clayton comes in at $125,829 and the average home value is $754,588 for 2024.

Des Peres, MO

Source: Wikipedia User LittleT889 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 9,140
Cost Of Living Index: 125
Median Income: $214,810
Average Home Price: $595,231
Home Price To Income Ratio: 2.8x
More on Des Peres: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Des Peres is 125. The median income in Des Peres comes in at $214,810 and the average home value is $595,231 for 2024.

Sunset Hills, MO

Source: Wikipedia User WhisperToMe | CC BY 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 9,121
Cost Of Living Index: 120
Median Income: $126,199
Average Home Price: $538,666
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.3x
More on Sunset Hills: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Sunset Hills is 120. The median income in Sunset Hills comes in at $126,199 and the average home value is $538,666 for 2024.

Weldon Spring, MO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 5,320
Cost Of Living Index: 117
Median Income: $143,389
Average Home Price: $549,244
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.8x
More on Weldon Spring: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Weldon Spring is 117. The median income in Weldon Spring comes in at $143,389 and the average home value is $549,244 for 2024.

Creve Coeur, MO

Source: Wikipedia User LittleT889 | CC BY-SA 4.0
Overall SnackAbility

9
/10

Population: 18,679
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $115,120
Average Home Price: $536,873
Home Price To Income Ratio: 4.7x
More on Creve Coeur: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Creve Coeur is 116. The median income in Creve Coeur comes in at $115,120 and the average home value is $536,873 for 2024.

Glendale, MO

Source: HomeSnacks
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 6,131
Cost Of Living Index: 116
Median Income: $157,750
Average Home Price: $505,640
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.2x
More on Glendale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Glendale is 116. The median income in Glendale comes in at $157,750 and the average home value is $505,640 for 2024.

Wildwood, MO

Source: Wikipedia User FlickreviewR 2 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 35,276
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $147,508
Average Home Price: $513,120
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.5x
More on Wildwood: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Wildwood is 115. The median income in Wildwood comes in at $147,508 and the average home value is $513,120 for 2024.

Chesterfield, MO

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

9.5
/10

Population: 49,645
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $137,052
Average Home Price: $498,560
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.6x
More on Chesterfield: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate

The overall cost of living in Chesterfield is 114. The median income in Chesterfield comes in at $137,052 and the average home value is $498,560 for 2024.

Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Show Me State For 2024

Map Of The Cheapest Places To Live In Missouri
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Missouri are:

  1. How much money do I make?
  2. How much do I have to spend to live there?

You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.

For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.

With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2018-2022 around incomes and costs. They are:

  • Overall Cost Of Living Index
  • Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
  • Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
  • Median Home Price

You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Missouri to figure out which is the most expensive.

You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.

So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 127 places in Missouri that have more than 5,000 people.

The place with the highest cost of living in Missouri according to the data is Ladue. We updated this article for 2024. This article is our tenth time ranking the most expensive places to live in Missouri.

Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Missouri For 2024

Well, there you have it, the places in Missouri that have the highest cost of living, with Ladue ranking as the most expensive city in the Show Me State.

The most expensive cities in Missouri are Ladue, Town and Country, Clayton, Des Peres, Sunset Hills, Weldon Spring, Creve Coeur, Glendale, Wildwood, and Chesterfield.

Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Missouri according to the data:

  1. Park Hills
  2. Jennings
  3. St. Ann

For more Missouri reading, check out:

Most Expensive Cities In Missouri

Rank City Cost Of Living Population Median Income Average Home Price Home/Income Ratio
1 Ladue 169 8,934 $250,001 $1,110,693 4.4x
2 Town and Country 147 11,575 $231,382 $963,818 4.2x
3 Clayton 142 17,212 $125,829 $754,588 6.0x
4 Des Peres 125 9,140 $214,810 $595,231 2.8x
5 Sunset Hills 120 9,121 $126,199 $538,666 4.3x
6 Weldon Spring 117 5,320 $143,389 $549,244 3.8x
7 Creve Coeur 116 18,679 $115,120 $536,873 4.7x
8 Glendale 116 6,131 $157,750 $505,640 3.2x
9 Wildwood 115 35,276 $147,508 $513,120 3.5x
10 Chesterfield 114 49,645 $137,052 $498,560 3.6x
11 Dardenne Prairie 113 12,903 $140,844 $438,717 3.1x
12 Parkville 110 7,669 $166,563 $574,364 3.4x
13 Olivette 106 8,431 $102,630 $440,935 4.3x
14 Cottleville 105 5,584 $130,139 $427,594 3.3x
15 Kirkwood 104 29,309 $107,905 $414,629 3.8x
16 Webster Groves 104 23,838 $105,930 $388,329 3.7x
17 Lake St. Louis 102 17,088 $114,230 $398,486 3.5x
18 University City 101 34,850 $71,888 $237,517 3.3x
19 Richmond Heights 101 9,186 $94,384 $353,272 3.7x
20 Ellisville 100 9,914 $104,360 $360,277 3.5x
21 Columbia 99 126,172 $60,455 $280,111 4.6x
22 Ballwin 99 30,948 $118,647 $379,084 3.2x
23 Eureka 99 12,008 $104,697 $364,147 3.5x
24 Brentwood 99 8,173 $89,688 $253,415 2.8x
25 O’Fallon 97 91,825 $104,863 $343,861 3.3x
26 Manchester 97 18,240 $89,153 $332,927 3.7x
27 Wentzville 96 44,584 $109,158 $364,171 3.3x
28 Raymore 96 23,232 $96,536 $328,747 3.4x
29 Jackson 96 15,394 $72,500 $245,343 3.4x
30 Lee’s Summit 95 101,728 $103,447 $347,310 3.4x
31 St. Charles 93 70,687 $83,589 $295,372 3.5x
32 Liberty 93 30,299 $91,512 $303,673 3.3x
33 Crestwood 93 12,315 $111,791 $306,853 2.7x
34 Kearney 93 10,491 $99,969 $379,573 3.8x
35 Smithville 93 10,416 $95,122 $354,373 3.7x
36 Shrewsbury 93 6,352 $82,681 $267,379 3.2x
37 St. Robert 93 5,242 $52,627 $204,458 3.9x
38 Jefferson City 92 42,644 $63,649 $235,946 3.7x
39 Grain Valley 92 15,688 $82,364 $323,497 3.9x
40 Valley Park 92 6,848 $63,478 $260,081 4.1x
41 Blue Springs 91 58,720 $82,965 $283,645 3.4x
42 St. Peters 91 57,692 $88,708 $289,759 3.3x
43 Cape Girardeau 91 39,795 $51,671 $198,696 3.8x
44 Greenwood 91 6,038 $103,560 $327,682 3.2x
45 Kansas City 90 505,958 $65,256 $227,993 3.5x
46 Maryland Heights 90 28,099 $82,232 $234,669 2.9x
47 Rolla 90 20,025 $37,685 $198,371 5.3x
48 Bridgeton 90 11,422 $69,982 $250,506 3.6x
49 Maryville 90 10,691 $49,144 $207,346 4.2x
50 Perryville 90 8,536 $52,500 $201,535 3.8x
51 Gladstone 89 26,964 $68,633 $246,002 3.6x
52 Ozark 89 21,459 $66,631 $290,499 4.4x
53 Warrensburg 89 19,317 $54,535 $250,017 4.6x
54 Washington 89 14,769 $75,127 $276,502 3.7x
55 Pleasant Hill 89 8,822 $88,408 $320,437 3.6x
56 Maplewood 89 8,205 $58,448 $243,461 4.2x
57 Battlefield 89 6,046 $82,302 $273,871 3.3x
58 Arnold 88 20,840 $72,317 $241,114 3.3x
59 Republic 88 18,824 $63,102 $249,783 4.0x
60 Troy 88 12,964 $74,463 $278,307 3.7x
61 Branson 88 12,651 $49,790 $261,481 5.3x
62 Harrisonville 88 10,024 $57,607 $253,584 4.4x
63 Carl Junction 88 8,197 $69,259 $242,308 3.5x
64 Waynesville 88 5,372 $47,193 $218,372 4.6x
65 Belton 87 24,241 $68,030 $236,726 3.5x
66 Sikeston 87 16,146 $47,464 $144,611 3.0x
67 Oak Grove 87 8,304 $71,006 $271,763 3.8x
68 Dexter 87 7,910 $45,617 $149,823 3.3x
69 Boonville 87 7,725 $50,932 $176,207 3.5x
70 Pacific 87 7,239 $52,155 $210,666 4.0x
71 Peculiar 87 5,675 $91,783 $329,307 3.6x
72 Marshall 86 13,687 $52,171 $157,575 3.0x
73 Festus 86 12,772 $65,942 $259,258 3.9x
74 Fulton 86 12,648 $59,544 $205,135 3.4x
75 Willard 86 6,342 $76,500 $252,650 3.3x
76 Raytown 85 29,772 $64,542 $191,914 3.0x
77 Nixa 85 23,523 $74,814 $297,518 4.0x
78 Kirksville 85 17,533 $41,089 $141,459 3.4x
79 Hannibal 85 17,003 $52,746 $141,434 2.7x
80 Poplar Bluff 85 16,313 $37,448 $154,670 4.1x
81 Moberly 85 13,708 $39,332 $113,331 2.9x
82 Bolivar 85 10,780 $40,530 $232,364 5.7x
83 Cameron 85 9,101 $50,206 $211,143 4.2x
84 Pevely 85 6,012 $68,141 $238,053 3.5x
85 St. Louis 84 298,018 $52,941 $168,569 3.2x
86 Springfield 84 168,873 $43,450 $222,322 5.1x
87 Independence 84 122,218 $57,415 $189,173 3.3x
88 Florissant 84 52,167 $64,178 $176,193 2.7x
89 Grandview 84 25,921 $51,048 $203,316 4.0x
90 Hazelwood 84 25,345 $55,111 $150,689 2.7x
91 Odessa 84 5,554 $86,125 $225,800 2.6x
92 Macon 84 5,452 $50,101 $155,350 3.1x
93 Union 83 12,341 $68,864 $230,739 3.4x
94 Mexico 83 11,502 $47,585 $144,899 3.0x
95 Excelsior Springs 83 10,546 $74,196 $202,892 2.7x
96 Clinton 83 8,908 $48,116 $156,179 3.2x
97 Warrenton 83 8,648 $62,096 $257,840 4.2x
98 Marshfield 83 7,501 $63,842 $238,760 3.7x
99 Black Jack 83 6,632 $63,617 $192,665 3.0x
100 St. Joseph 82 72,198 $54,515 $145,631 2.7x
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.